Proverbs May 11, 2008

Proverbs are like pearls: precious, concentrated, hidden drops of wisdom our ancestors have forged and transmitted to us. They say a lot about the way people live and think.

This is why my pupils and I are suggesting you alla game: comparing our proverbs. They have chosen and translated a few proverbs on some of their favourite topics and here they are. Do you have similar ones? Will you tell us yours?

FRIENDS

Show me your friend and I’ll tell you who you are.

Love your friend moderately, for he may be your enemy some day; hate your enemy moderately, for he may be your friend some day.

You get to know your friend in times of need.

One hundred friends is not enough, one enemy is too many.

Who is alike will rally (Such a sack, such a patch. Such a Turk, such a pistol)

A friend is worth much more than a bagful of gold.

Protect me, God, from my friends, for I can protect myself from my enemies.

Brother or no brother, the cheese is for sale ( meaning:don’t ask me for favours)

Friendship is a flower that does not grow by the road.

Where there’s two, the strength will grow.

Scold your friend privately and praise him in public.

Make brothers with the devil till you’ve crossed the bridge.

LIFE AND DEATH

A man’s life is like an egg in a child’s hand.

The one who fears death lost his life.

It’s hard for the poor man to live and for the rich one to die.

The death shuts every mouth

I’d rather be an eagle for a day than a crow for a lifetime. (The reverse: Better a living ass then a dead wise man.)

The dead-man won’t return from his grave.

The one who digs another man’s grave will fall into it himself.

Anyone who sees birth, sees death.

Dead with the dead, living with the living

About the dead, nothing but good (words).

If the woman’s tongue were shorter, the man’s life would be longer.

Rather than to live dying, die living.

The one whom you won’t let die won’t let you live.

MONEY

Money attract money and lice attract lice. (the rich will grow even richer and the poor, poorer)

He has as much money as the frog has hairs.

Money won’t bring schooling, but schooling will bring money.

The rich won’t believe the poor, the fed won’t believe the hungry.

Honesty can be neither bought, nor sold.

To a poor man not even money are drawn. (can’t translate this properly, it’s a rhyme)

I’d rather get milk from a barren cow than money from you.

And a funny one: It’s not money that makes you happy….it’s the amount of it.

CATS

The gentle cat scratches badly. (about hypocrisy, of course)

The cat wearing a bell catches no mice.

When the cat is not at home, the mice dance on the table. (this is a rhyme).

Whatever is born from a cat will eat mice. ( Another version: the owl will not hatch nightingales).

He bought a cat in a sack. (about imprudence)

The cat entered the sack, but her claws are showing.

The mouse with only one hole gets caught by the cat.

They get along as well as the cat an the dog.

To pull the cat by the tail (meaning living poorly, having no steady income etc.)